To describe the epidemiology of selected nosocomial infections in pediatric cancer patients as well on the unit level as in a reference database of cumulative data from a prospective multicenter surveillance perspective.

To allow the participating institution

to compare its own results with other centers and with the reference database (median and 75. percentile).

to reduce the incidence density of nosocomial infections and the incidence rate of catheter-associated infections in pediatric cancer patients.

To promote patient's safety by means of quality assurance and a reduction of nosocomial infections.

To intensify the practical collaboration of the health care team with infection control personnel and infectious disease specialists in this clinical context.

To describe the distribution of bacterial pathogens of blood stream infections and to determine the sensitivity (minimal inhibitory concentration) of bacterial pathogens detected in blood cultures to first and second line antimicrobial agents in this high risk population with a standardized method (central reference laboratory).

To detect bacterial isolates with emerging types of antimicrobial resistance.

To describe the therapeutic use of antibacterial and antifungal agents in pediatric cancer patients related to nosocomial infections.

To describe the incidence and incidence density of invasive Aspergillosis in pediatric cancer patients.

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00843804